Can opening machine



p 935. w. K. CABOT 2,012,955

CAN OPENING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1931 s Sheets-Sheet i INVENTOR ATTORNE Sept. 3, 1935. w. K. CABOT 2,012,955

CAN GPENING MACHINE Filed June 15, 19s; 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 w mm .....v....v

mmu a NTOR : g 4 A V i TTORNEY Sept. 3, 1935. w CABOT a I 2,012,955

CAN OPENING MACHINE VIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR B WW A- ATTO R N EY Patented Sept. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT. orilcr.

I 2,012,955 CAN OPENING mourns,

Walter K. Cabot, Montclair, N. J., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 15,1931, Serial No. 544,351 .13 Claims. (01. 30-3) The opening of containers, particularly metal-- lic containers such as the ordinary tin can, has been accomplished by can openers depending for the most part upon manual operation. Even with more elaborate openers of the bench and table type considerable hand control has been necessary. While such can opening methods have been adequate for opening relatively smallnumbers of cans, their use is costly in the opening of the large In the tomato oatsup industry all of the principal fruit (tomatoes) ripens at about the same; time and must be handled quickly to prevent spoilage. It is a common practice in this industry to temporarilysseal the ripened fruit in tin cans for temporary storage. These cans are subsequently opened, as the manufacturing needs require, and this necessitates the opening of a vast number of cans. The present invention is directed to the provision of a container opening machine capableof rapidly and efliciently opening a large quantity of cans in a relatively short time and with the minimum of hand labor.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a machine for automatically opening closed containers by automatically presenting them for opening, automatically opening them, and automatically removing the same after they have been opened.

An important object of the invention is the provision of an automatic container opening head for an opening machine, having rotatable cutting elements and provision for holdingthe container in position during the opening operation.

A further important object of the invention is the provision of an opening machine for containers which conveys the sealed container into opening position, removes a part from the container in opening it and which retains control of both the container and the part severed while independently removing the same from the-maprovision of a container opening head for severing a part from a sealed container, wherein the container is automatically brought into proper position, is properly presented to cutting elements carried by the head, and is held in such presented position during the severing operation.

Numerous other objects of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof. 10

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a machine embodying the present invention.-

Flg. 2 is an enlarged central sectional view of the opening head, taken substantially along the 15 line 2-2 of Fig. l; I

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the head, taken substantially along the broken line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig; 4 is a sectional plan view of the machine, go taken substantially along the brokenline 4-4 in Fig. 1, parts being broken away;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially along the line 5-5 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional plan view, 25 taken substantially along the line 6-8 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially along the line 1-1 in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail taken substantially along the line 8-.8 in Fig. 'I. 30

An apparatus embodying the present invention is illustrated in the drawings and comprises an opening head suitably mounted for rotation in a frame. A conveyor is provided for bringing the cans into alignment with the head from 35 whichposition they are successively lifted and presented to a stationary chuck supported centrally of the rotating head.

During this transfer 'of a can into chucked position it is properly aligned relative to the head 40 and its cover is impaled upon spring held spikes or sharpened pins carried in the chuck. A rotable cutting roller is angularlymounted in the rotating head and is carriedaround and inside of the cover seam. This rotative action com- 45 pletely cuts the cover from the rest of the container, a backing up ring disposed on the outside of the can seam assisting in the severing operation.

The opened can is then lowered and replaced on to the conveyor which discharges it from the machine. The severed can put, the cover, still impaled upon the spikes in the chuck, is, then forced downwardly bya knockout device and falls into a catcher device. The catcher device I next succeeding can being brought into its open I bearing I1;

ing position, the severed cover in the catcher is thrown out of the catcher plate and is thereby ejected from the machine. 1

An opening head I I (Fig. 1) is rotatably mounted in the supporting frame of the machine which comprises an upright column section I2 mounted on a base I3. A housing I4 is bolted on the front face of the frame I2 and partially encloses the opening head, a housing cover I5 bolted to the housing completing the inclosural The rotating parts of the head II are carried on the lower end of a sleeve I6 extending vertically through connecting sections of the housing It and its cover I5. The upper end of the sleeve I6 is journaled in a bearing 81 formed in the housing and cover. Adjacent the head II,-the sleeve is enlarged to provide a support for a rotatable element I8 of a ball bearing unit, this element being clamped on the sleeve by a lock nut IS. The stationary element of the bearing unit comprises a ball race held in stationary position, against the lower end of a tubular member 2 I, by a lock nut 22 threadedly secured over the tubular member.

The tubular member 2I is shouldered at 23 to provide locking support within a clamp bearing 24 formed at the junction between the housing I4 and the cover I5 and is located beneath the The head I I and its sleeve I6 is thus held against vertical movement but is freely rotatable within the hearing I! and within the porting bearings through movement imparted by way of its sleeve I5 and for this purpose the sleeve is enlarged intermediate its bearings I1 and 24 to provide a gear section 34. Gear 34 meshes with an idler gear 35 rotatably mounted on an elongated bushing 36 secured in bearings 31 and 38 formed in housing I4. The gear 35 also meshes with a driving gear 4I keyed to a vertical shaft 42 jo'urnaled for rotation 'at its lowermost end in a bearing 43 formed in an extension of the housing I4 and at its upper end in a bearing 44 formed in a gear casing 45 mounted on the top of the column frame I2.

A bevel gear 43 is keyed to the shaft 42 at its upper end and islocated within the gear casing adjacent'the bearing 44. This gear 43 meshes with a corresponding bevel gear 43' mounted on and keyed to a horizontal drive shaft 3| journaled in bearings 52, 53 formed in the gear casing 45. Driving power is imparted to. the drive shaft in any suitable manner as by means of a pulley 55 secured to one end of the shaft exteriorly of the gear casing.

A table GI, (Figs. 1 and 4) is provided to assist in the presentation of sealed containers 32 to the opening head and for the removal of the same. Table GI is mounted on a bracket 63 secured to the front of the column frame I2, the bracket extending forwardly of the frame and beneath the opening head.

Pockets or depressions 34, 65 are formed in the top of the table 3| and accommodate horizontally ,disposed sprockets 61, 63 mounted on the upper secured to the drive shaft 5|.

ends of shafts 33, II respectively, journaled in bearings formed integrally of the table Iii. A can conveyor is provided, comprising an endless chain 13, which operates over the sprockets 31, 68, the forward run of the chain passing beneath the opening head II The upper surface of the chain I3 is flush with or slightly below the surface of the table, guideways or grooves It formed in the table accommodating the chain in its passage between sprockets.

I Chain l3 preferably embodies special links 15 at spaced regular intervals which carry vertically extending fingers I6 which project above the table surface and engage behind the sealed containers in bearings 31, 33, formed in the frame I2, in a bearing 35 formed in the gear casing 65, in a bearing 3i provided in the housing I4 adjacent the bearing 43 and also in a bearing 92 formed in an inward extension of the bracket 63. At its uppermost end the shaft 86 carries a worm gear 32 (Fig. 5) which meshes-with a worm 93 This gear, shaft. and chain and sprocket connections provide continuous driving power for the conveyor chain I3.

The table 6| directly beneath the opening head is cut away or recessed at IM and as the sealed containers 62 are brought to this position beneath the opening head I I by the conveyor chain 13 they move on to the upper surface of a movable platform or can lifter I02 (Figs. 1 and 4). This platform I02 is mounted on the upper end of a vertically movable, vertically disposed shaft I03 journaled in bearings I04, I05 projecting forwardly from the bracket 63.

The platform I02is slotted at I01 to allow for passage of the conveyor chain 13, the slot being of the same w;dth as the table slot I4 and therefore permitting unobstructed passage of the 'chain. The slot III] is deep enough to permit lifting of the platform I02 with the rising shaft I03 without interference with the continuous.

secured to the shaft I03 intermediate the bearings I04, I05 and is pivotally connected by a link I03 with the forward end of a lever III pivoted on a stub shaft II2 supported in bosses II 3 formed in the bracket 63. The rear end of lever III carries a stud II4 on which a cam roller III is rotatably mounted. This cam roller operates within a cam groove H6 formed in a cam III secured to the lower end of the shaft 36.

Lifting of the platform I02 in the manner described removes its superimposed container 62 from the influence oi the conveyor chain I3 and brings its upper end into the opening head II. Parallel spaced guide rails I2I (Figs. 1 and 4) are supported at the front and rear sides of the platform I02 and are held above the platform surface by brackets I22 secured to the platform walls. These rails form continuations of the its raised and inserted position, the container guide rails I1 and hold the can 32 in proper position. A pilot pin I24 is mounted on the'bearing N4 and extends upwardly and into sliding connection with a vertical bore 125 formed in the 5 platform. This construction holds the platform a the head to the lower end of the sleeve I3. A specfal spline connection I32 (Fig. 6) is used'between sleeve and collar to prevent movement therebetween. Collar I3I is further clamped in place by a nut I34 threadedly engaged to a reduced part I35 of the sleeve. This nut I34 rests within a recess I38 which also accommodates a lock nut I31 threadedly engaging the collar. 8

The body of the opening head comprises a ring member I38 (Fig. 2) mounted upon the collar I3I and having an inwardly projecting shoulder I33 engaging the under side of the body and held in registration by dowel pins I 43. This shouldered part of the ring member encloses a central conical walled chamber I. An annular peripheral shoulder I42 is formed in the ring member I38 and supports an outer ring I43. The upper surfaces of this outer ring I43 and the collar "I are in the same horizontal plane which is slightly above the top surface of the ring I38 and a clamping plate I44 engages the outer ring and collar and is held in clamping -position by bolts I45 passing through theplate and threadedly secured to the ring body I38. A cover disc I41 is also provided for the head, its outer annular wall designated by the numeral I38, being frictfonally fltted upon a flange I43 projecting outwardly from, and at the top of the ring I43.

the active cutting element for the opening head, being preferably formed as an integral part of a spindle I52 mounted in ball bearing units I53, I54 seated in recesses I55, I56 formed in the ring member I38. The spindle I52 is disposed at an angle of about thirty degrees to the horizontal and this positions the cutter disc I5I at an abrupt cutting angle as will be more fully explained. This disc I5I is located entirely within the chamber MI. I

For easy assembly of the cutter parts the spindle ball race elements of the bearing units I53, I54 are clamped against an interposed spacing sleeve I51 and these members are held on the spindle I52 and against the cutter by a lock nut I58 threadedly secured to its upper end. The

outer or stationary ball race element of the bearing unit I54 is clamped in its recess I55 by a nut I53 threadedly secured within a connecting recess I8I formed in the ring member I33. The outer or stationary ball race element of the bearing unit I53 is allowed to float in its recess I55.

A circular plate I32 is used to partially enclose the opening head (Fig. 2) and is secured to the bottom edges of the housing I4 and the cover I5. Plate I32 is centrally apertured at I33 and its lower face is counterbored adjacent at I54.

A ring I85 is disposed within the aperture "3- and itsilange I55 is secured within the counterbore I64 by bolts I31. The ring I55 at its lower edge is formed with a tapered throat I53 which acts as a guide in centering the container v as it. is lifted into the opening head by the rising platform I32 as previously described. In

A rotatablecutter disc m (Fig. 2) provides has a snug fit on the inside of the ring I35 and is thus securely held in cutting posit-ion.

' A chuck organization (Fig. 2)- is provided in the head .II for engaging and holding the top or cover end of the inserted container 82 so that it is held stationary during the cutting operation.

This chuck device is located centrally of the 'chamber I and embodies a flanged disc I1I having a hub I12 which is secured to a reduced lower end I13 of a vertically disposed sleeve I14 (see also Fig. l) which extends through the sleeveIG. v

The sleeve I14 is held stationary within the bearing I1, the upper end of the sleeve being threadedly connected with a clamp collar I15 securely held in the bearing. This. clamp collar may be split along one side and ascrew I16 may be used to tightly hold the'collar against the threads of the sleeve.

The chuck organization also includes a plurality of vertically disposed shouldered spikes or pins I11 (Figs. 2, 3, 7, and 8) carried in the disc Ill and extending downwardly below its lower face. These pins extend through the disc flange and are held in fixed position by nuts I18, three such pins being illustrated. Each pin I11 terminates at its lower extremity in a triangular pointed head I13 abovewhich there is formed a ledge I8I, the head and a portion of the pin above the ledge being cut back substantially half of its thickness leaving a flat side I82.

A vertically extending semi-circular groove I34 is cut into this flat side and extends upwardly through the body of the pin as a circular bore I35. A pin I88, having an enlarged head I81 is slidingly mounted in the bore "I85 and groove I34. The upper surface of the head I31 is slotted at I88 (Figs. 2 and 3) to accommodate the free end of a flat-spring I83 secured to the disc I1I, at its opposite end by screws I3I. This construction yieldingly holds the pin I88 in 'down- I ward position (Fig. '7) with its head I81 against the upper end of the pin I11, the fitting of the spring within the slot I88 preventing turning of the,pin.

As the sealed container is being raised'into engagement with the head II, as previously described, its top or cover first strikes against the pointed heads I13 of the pins I11 and then conholes formed by the pointed pinsJ11. This shifting causes .theledges I8I to catch under the cover andto hold it during severing of the cover from the container which now follows.

In this insertedpositionfiof the container its cover has been brought up against the cutting disc I5I being continually carriedjround' with the rotating head. This cutter now circumsc'ribes the .top adjacent to and inside of the double seam joint and cutsout the top cover as the cutting edge rotates against its wall, the ring I55 backing up the engaged can part adjacent the-cutter at such a time.

As the container cover is cut loose from the container body so that It can be further shifted, the springs Ill slide the pins I99 downwardly and move their tapered lower walls along the edges of the pierced holes in the cover.- .This further moves the now detached cover into secure shouldered engagement with the pins I" where it remains during lowering of the openedccntainer 62 back to theconveyer chain 12 with the lowering platform. The opened container is thereupon reengaged by an approaching chain pin I6 and discharged from the machine. It will be understood that alternate pins 19 are used for conveying containers to the-platform I92 while those intermediate are for discharging engagement.

During the interim between lowering of an opened-container and insertion of the next succe'eding closed container into the opening head, the severed cover impaled upon the spikes I1? is knocked ed by a knockout device and is caught and thrown out of the machine by a discharge device working in close cooperation. The knockout device comprises a stripper disc 593 (Figs. 1 and'2) secured to the lower end of a vertically extending knockout rod I99. This rod is located centrally of the sleeve I'll and projects both above and below its ends. a

The upper end of the rod I96 is pinned to a boss I95 formed in an arm I 98 which is secured to the upper end or a vertically disposed rod I98 slidingly mounted in the tubular shaft 36. The

, lower end of the rod: I98 is secured to a boss I99 formed in a vertically movable block 2IlI which is held by and 'which slides upon a pilot pinj 202 mounted in a bracket 203, projecting between side walls of'the column frame I2. A

cam roller 205 is rotatably mounted on the block 2M and operates'within a groove 205 of a barrel cam 20! mounted on thevertical shaft 85.

Rotation of the shaft 86 through the described cam parts raises ,and lowers the block 20 I rod I98,

arm I96, rod l9l, and disc I93 to strip the con-' tainer top from the holding pins I". A feather 204 (Fig. 2) issecured by screws to the under side of the disc Ill and one end projects into a featherway 208 out in the lower end of the rod operating within a cam groove 2| 8 formed in a face cam 2| 9 secured to the shaft 86. 'This cam oscillates the lever 2I2 and positions its catcher pan 2 beneath the head II as the severed container cover is knocked off and then swings out of the way of the next succeeding closed container being raised into opening position. This lateral movement of the pan 2 is sufllciently jerky to cause a throwing out or ejection of the cover when the lever -2|2 comes to an abrupt stop. The severed cover is thus ejected from the machine.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be" made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts with This holds the disc l93.against rotation. while permitting its vertical movement. Clearout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. An opening machine for containers compris- I ing in combination, a rotatable head having a cut- I 'tingelement adapted to sever 'a part of the container in the opening operation, a continuously moving conveyor for bringing the container into position adjacent said head prior to opening and 1 for discharging it from said position after opening, and a movable platform combined with said conveyor and located in alignment with said head for transferring the container from said conveyor into engagement with said head for the opening operation and for returning the opened container back to said conveyor.

2. An opening machine'for containers comprising in combination, a head having a cutting element adapted to sever a part of the container in the opening operation, a chuck combined with said head for holding the container in position for opening, means associated with the chuck for holding the severed part of the container after opening, and a stripper device for releasing the charging means for removing the said severed container part from the machine.

4. An opening machine for containers comprising in combination, a rotatable head having a cutting element adapted to sever a part of the container in the opening operation, a conveyor for bringing the container into position adjacent said head prior to opening, means combined with said conveyor for transferring the container therefrom into engagement with said head, and means combined with said head for guiding the container into exact cutting position within the said head.

5. An opening machine for containers comprising in combination, a-rotatable head having a ro-' tatable cutting element adapted to sever a part of the container in the opening operation, a stationary chuck combined with said head for holding the container in'stationary position for opening said chuck having depending spikes for piercing the said container part and means combined with said spikes for shifting the severed container part into holding position.

6. An opening machine for containers comprising in combination, a rotatable head having a cutting element adapted to sever a part of the container in the opening operation, a stationary chuck combined with said head for holding the container in stationary position for opening, means associated with said chuck for piercing and holding the container part to be severed, and yielding means ,also combined with said chuck for shifting the container part into holding position during severance. Y

'7. An opening machine for containers comprising in combination, a rotatable head having a cutting element adapted to sever a part of the container during a rotation of the head, a conveyor forbringing the container into position adiacent said head and for discharging it therefrom,

' means for transferring the closedcontainer from to catch said stripped and severed container part and eject it from the machine. v

8. In a can-opening machine, the combination of a rotatable head, a'rotary cutter journaled in said head, a conveyor for depositing filled cans successively beneath said head, a can lifter for placing said cans with their upper ends within said head, and mechanism for operating the described elements in timed relation.

9. An opening machine for containers comprising in combination, a head having a cutting element operating downwardly on the container end and adapted to sever a part of the-container in the opening operation, and a conveyor for bringing the container into said head for opening and for I discharging it therefrom after opening,

means movable relative to said conveyor for discharging the said severed part away from the line of said head and container, and mechanism operating said elements in timed relation.

.10. An opening machine for containers comprising in combination, a head having a cutting element adapted to sever a part of the container in the opening operation, a conveyor for bringing the container into position adjacent said head and for discharging it therefrom after opening, and means combined with said conveyor for moving the container from said position and into said head for opening, and devices movable to and from the cutting element for discharging the severed part of the container laterally from said head.

' 11. An opening machine for containers comprising in combination, a head having a cutting element adapted to sever a part of the container in the opening operation, a chuck combined with said head for holding the container in position for opening, and means for bringing the container into said head for opening and for discharging it therefrom after opening, and devices movable to and from the cutting element for discharging the severed part of the container laterally from said head and chuck.

12. An opening machine for containers comprising in combination, a rotary head having a cutting element and means for piercing and sup porting a cut-oif part of the container, means for changing the vertical distance between said head and the container, means for moving the container to a position under said head and away therefrom, means for rotating the head, means for stripping the removed container top from the said piercing means, and means for removing said top from under said stripping means and head.

13. An opening machine for containers having in combination, chuck and holding elements for elevating and holding a container, a head and knife disc rotary on its own axis and around the axis of a container so held for severing the top part of the container, relatively fixed means for holding the severed part while the container is removed, and conveying means for feeding containers to said chuck and holding elements;

WALTER K. CABOT. 

